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Abelmoschus esculentus
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Family:
MALVACEAE
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Citation: Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench., Methodus 617. 1794; Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 49. 1982; Antony, Syst. Stud. Fl. Kottayam Dist. 79. 1989; T.K. Paul in B.D. Sharma & Sanjappa, Fl. India 3: 385. 1993; Sivar. & Pradeep, Malvac. Southern Peninsular India 62. 1996; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 79. 1997; M. Mohanan & A.V.N. Rao in P. Daniel, Fl. Kerala 1: 402. 2005; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 134. 2009.
Hibiscus esculentus L., Sp. Pl. 696. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 343. 1874.
Hibiscus longifolius Willd., Sp. Pl. 3:827.1800.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Venda
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Gumbo, Lady's finger, Okra
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Description:
Erect herbs or undershrubs; stems green or purplish, covered with stiff simple hairs. Leaves alternate, orbicular, cordate at base, 3-20 x 5-25 cm, palmately 3-7 lobed or parted; lobes 3-angled, ovate or oblong, serrate-dentate or crenate at margin, acute to acuminate at apex, covered with stiff simple hairs on both surfaces; petioles 5-30 cm long, hairy; stipules ovate-lanceolate, 3-7 x 1-3 mm, hairy. Flower axillary, solitary. Epicalyx lobes 7-10, lanceolate, acute at apex, 15-20 x 5-8 mm, sparsely hairy. Calyx spathaceous, ca 3 cm across, hairy on both sides. Corolla yellow with a red or purple centre, ca 5 cm across; petals obovate, rounded at apex, ca 5 x 6 cm, glabrous or sparsely hairy at margin. Staminal column ca 2 cm long, white. Ovary ovoid, ca 7 x 8 mm, densely sericeous, 5 or 6 loculed; styles 5 or 6 armed; stigmas discoid, purple. Capsules cylindric, 5-angled, acuminate at apex, 10-25 cm long, hairy; seeds globose, glabrous and sometimes pubescent near hilum, dark brown.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
Throughout the year
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Cultivated as vegetable
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Distribution:
Cultivated in most tropical countries including India
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Yellow
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
Yes
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
Yes
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
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